Servia To Drive Rahal Letterman Car

Open-wheel veteran Oriol Servia was named to drive the entry fielded by Rahal Letterman Racing in the 2009 Indianapolis 500, team officials announced May 13.

Servia, from Spain, finished 11th in a KV Racing entry as an Indianapolis 500 rookie in 2008. He will drive the No. 17 Dallara/Honda/Firestone with sponsorship from DAFCA, a company dedicated to protecting the supply chain of micro-electronic goods from acts of cyber-terrorism through DAFCA’s revolutionary “in chip” process.

“Sometimes being stubborn is not such a bad thing,” Servia said. “I had a great season last year, and I feel I am at the top of my game. Although the season started without me having a ride, I knew that if I was patient enough something good would happen. I am really excited to announce this opportunity I have been given to participate in the greatest race in the world with one of the best teams in open-wheel history.

“I have raced many years against the Rahal Letterman team and it makes me very proud to be finally part of it. I am sure that together our focused efforts will make a very successful experience. I am also very pleased to be part of DAFCA’s first journey into the Indianapolis 500 and make it as fast, secure and accomplished as the company itself stands for.”

This will be the 12th year that Rahal Letterman will compete in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The team won the race in 2004 with driver Buddy Rice. Danica Patrick won the Chase Rookie of the Year Award in 2005 in an RLR entry, as did Ryan Hunter-Reay last year.

“We have worked very hard all year in order to put this program together for the Indianapolis 500, and we feel like we have a package that will allow us to go to Indy and perform well,” said RLR co-owner Bobby Rahal, the 1986 winner of the “500.” “The team’s experience, combined with a veteran talent like Oriol, should give us everything we need to be competitive throughout the event. We are extremely pleased to welcome DAFCA to the RLR family and look forward to giving DAFCA a great experience in their first visit to Indy.”